【正文】
h unit synchronizes the speed of the gears so that they revolve at the same speed as they slide into engagement. The automatic transmission system changes gear ratios automatically in response to changes in engine speed or throttle setting. The use of automatic transmissions increased tremendously after World War Ⅱ , and they are installed in more than half of the automobile produced in the United States. Automobiles equipped with an automatic transmission have a control lever which allows the driver to select neutral, low, drive, and reverse. The engine is started in neutral, and the lever is moved to “drive” for normal operation when moving forward. In “drive” position the vehicles can accelerate from rest to maximum speed by simply depressing the accelerator. The “l(fā)ow” position prevent the transmission from shifting out of the lower gear ratios. It is used for climbing steep grades, in mud, or at other tomes when maximum power is needed. Some units have a “park” position, which locks the transmission to prevent a parked car from rolling. The automatic transmission makes it easier to drive a car, but it is less efficient than a manually shifted unit and increase gasoline consumption. For this reason, the automatic transmission is not as mon in Europe, where economy of operation is a prime sales factor. Four basic types of automatic transmissions have been developed to the point where they have been installed in production vehicles. The first consists of a standard mechanical transmission and clutch which is automatically shifted by pneumatic, hydraulic or electric power units. The second type uses a hydraulic torque converter plus a plaary gear system to increase engine torque. The third system bines a hydraulic coupling with an automatically shifted mechanical gearbox to provide torque amplification. The fourth type uses one or more stages of hydraulic torque conversion to provide torque multiplication. Automatic transmission shift in response to signals from speed sensing and throttle position sensors. The units incorporating hydraulic torque converters use the hydraulic fluid, under pressure, to engage and disengage plaary gear trains. Power steering system 也是汽車重要的一部分, The car of today is larger and heavier than earlier cars。 the tyres are wider, f